A woman in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, has been fined RM1,000 ($213) after pleading guilty to possessing illegal lottery tickets. The Daily Express reported that the offender, Natalia Nicole, entered her plea before Magistrate Dzul Elmy Yunus on 20 May.
Police caught Natalia with two unauthorised lottery tickets during an operation at Jalan Inanam Baru, Inanam. Authorities charged her under Section 9(1) of the Common Gaming Houses Act 1953, which carries a maximum penalty of RM5,000, six months in jail, or both. In default of payment, she faces a three-month imprisonment.
Officers had grown suspicious of her behavior and conducted a search. They seized several items, including a mobile phone, portable printer, RM116 in cash, and the lottery tickets.
The Common Gaming Houses Act 1953 is a key legal tool for cracking down on street-level gambling in Malaysia. Authorities often use this law to prosecute cases involving unauthorised lottery sales and similar offences.
This case is among several gambling-related developments reported in Malaysia this week. In Kedah, the state government continues to defend its decision to stop renewing gaming licences. Despite criticisms that the move defies federal authority, state officials argue they are within their rights under the Federal Constitution’s Ninth Schedule, Item 4 of the State List, which grants states control over certain licensing matters.
As enforcement efforts persist across various states, Malaysia continues to clamp down on illegal gambling activities, with state and federal jurisdictions occasionally clashing on regulatory authority.
